Device having a magnetic applicator and/or wiper member

• US 6,866,437 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen
• Application Number:
  US09/790,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 401/118, 401/119, 401123-127, 401/130
• US Class Current: 401/130
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1036 containing a cosmetic substance, e.g. impregnated with liquid or containing a soluble solid substance
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/046 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 37/00 Sachet pads specially adapted for liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/28 Appliances specially adapted for spreading already applied paint
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment

Abstract

A device for applying a substance, in particular a cosmetic, the device comprising an applicator having a structure for application purposes and capable of transporting the substance onto a surface to be treated, and optionally a wiper member for wiping said applicator prior to applying the substance, wherein inside at least a portion of said structure and/or the wiper member there are disposed one or more elements generating or suitable for generating a magnetic field of predetermined orientation.

Claims

1. A device for applying a cosmetic substance, the device comprising:

an applicator comprising an applicator structure configured to be loaded with the cosmetic substance and to apply the loaded cosmetic substance to one of skin and hair,

wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field, the particles being dispersed in the applicator structure, and

wherein the applicator structure is nonbristled.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field has a predetermined orientation.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the applicator structure is configured to absorb the cosmetic substance.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field comprises magnets.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field comprises magnetizable particles.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for containing the cosmetic substance to be applied, wherein the applicator structure is configured to be loaded with cosmetic substance from the receptacle.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising the cosmetic substance, wherein the cosmetic substance is contained in the receptacle.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the cosmetic substance is intended for application to at least one of hair and skin.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a pump configured to pump the cosmetic substance from the receptacle to the applicator structure.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a recess in flow communication with the pump, the recess being configured to receive the applicator structure.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a cap configured to removably cover the recess.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the applicator structure is attached to the cap.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for containing the cosmetic substance to be applied, wherein the applicator structure is configured to be arranged relative to the receptacle so as to permit loading of the applicator structure with cosmetic substance from the receptacle.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure is preimpregnated with the cosmetic substance to be applied.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a sealed envelope, wherein the applicator is packaged in the sealed envelope.

16.The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the applicator structure is porous.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure is made of at least one of a foam, a sponge, a sintered block, an aggregate of natural fibers, an aggregate of synthetic fibers, woven fibers, and non-woven fibers.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure is made of at least one of a foam and a sponge, the foam and the sponge each having at least 10% open cells.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the applicator structure has at least one of a flocking and a roughness thereon.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support member configured to hold the applicator structure.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the particles are dispersed in a substantially uniform manner throughout at least a portion of the applicator structure.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure comprises 0.2% by weight to 80% by weight of the particles.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of porous materials.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the applicator structure comprises magnets arranged to generate magnetic fields of differing orientations.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field are coated in a material suitable for protection against at least one of oxidation and changing of color.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a self-contained one-piece structure.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field are disposed within at least a portion of the applicator structure.

30. A method of applying substance, the method comprising:

providing the device of claim 1,

loading at least a portion the applicator structure with the cosmetic substance; and

placing the loaded applicator structure in contact with a surface so as to apply the cosmetic substance.

20. The device of claim 20, wherein the applicator structure is fixed to the support member.

21. The device of claim 21, wherein the support member comprises a handle.

22. The device of claim 22, wherein the support member includes at least one of a magnet and a magnetic particle.

31. The method of claim 31, wherein the placing of the loaded applicator structure in contact with the surface comprises placing the loaded applicator structure in contact with a surface on one of hair and skin.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the loading of the applicator structure includes loading the applicator structure with cosmetic substance contained in a receptacle.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the loading of the applicator structure includes preimpregnating the applicator structure with the cosmetic substance.

34. A device for applying a substance, the device comprising:

an applicator comprising an applicator structure configured to be loaded with the substance and to apply the loaded substance,

wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field, the particles being dispersed in the applicator structure, an

wherein at least part of the applicator structure comprises a porous material.

35. The device of claim 35, wherein the magnetic field has a predetermined orientation.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field comprises magnets.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field comprises magnetizable particles.

38. The device of claim 35, further comprising a receptacle for containing the substance to be applied, wherein the applicator structure is arranged to be loaded with substance from the receptacle.

46. The device of claim 35, further comprising a receptacle for containing the substance to be applied, wherein the applicator structure is configured to be arranged relative to the receptacle so as to permit loading of the applicator structure with substance from the receptacle.

47. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure is preimpregnated with the substance to be applied.

49. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure is made of at least one of a foam, a sponge, a sintered block, an aggregate of natural fibers, an aggregate of synthetic fibers, woven fibers, and non-woven fibers.

50. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure is made of at least one of a foam and a sponge, the foam and the sponge each having at least 10% open cells.

51. The device of claim 35, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the applicator structure has at least one of a flocking and a roughness thereon.

52. The device of claim 35, further comprising a support member configured to hold the applicator structure.

53. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure is fixed to the support member.

56. The device of claim 35, wherein the particles are dispersed in a substantially uniform manner throughout at least a portion of the applicator structure.

57. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure comprises 0.2% by weight to 80% by weight of the particles.

58. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of porous materials.

59. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles are configured to generate magnetic fields of differing orientations.

60. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field are coated in a material suitable for protection against at least one of oxidation and changing of color.

61. The device of claim 35, wherein the device is a self-contained, integral structure.

62. The device of claim 35, wherein the applicator structure is configured to apply a cosmetic substance to the surface.

63. The device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field are disposed within the applicator structure.

64. A method of applying substance, the method comprising:

providing the device of claim 35;

loading at least a portion of the applicator structure with the substance; and

placing the loaded applicator structure in contact with a surface so as to apply the substance.

39. The device of claim 39, further comprising the substance in the receptacle.

40. The device of claim 40, wherein the substance is a cosmetic substance.

41. The device of claim 41, wherein the substance is intended for application to at least one of hair and skin.

42. The device of claim 41, further comprising a pump configured to pump substance from the receptacle to the applicator structure.

43. The device of claim 43, further comprising a recess in flow communication with the pump, the recess being configured to receive the applicator structure.

44. The device of claim 44, further comprising a cap configured to removably cover the recess.

45. The device of claim 45, wherein the applicator structure is attached to the cap.

48. The device of claim 48, further comprising a sealed envelope, wherein the applicator is packaged in the sealed envelope.

54. The device of claim 54, wherein the support member comprises a handle.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the support member is configured to receive at least some of the plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field.

65. The method of claim 65, wherein the placing of the loaded applicator structure in contact with the surface comprises placing the loaded applicator structure in contact with a surface on one of hair and skin.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the loading of the applicator structure includes loading the applicator structure with make-up substance.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the loading of the applicator structure includes loading the applicator structure with substance contained in a receptacle.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the loading of the applicator structure includes preimpregnating the applicator structure with the substance.

69. A method of manufacturing an applicator for applying a cosmetic substance, the method comprising:

providing an applicator comprising an applicator structure configured to be loaded with a cosmetic substance and to apply the loaded cosmetic substance,

wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of magnetizable particles, and

wherein the applicator structure is nonbristled; and

subjecting the magnetizable particles to a magnetic field such that the particles generate at least one magnetic field of predetermined orientation.

70. The method of claim 70, further comprising associating the plurality of magnetizable particles with the applicator structure.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the applicator further comprises a permanent magnet, and further wherein the subjecting the magnetizable particles to the magnetic field comprises subjecting the magnetizable particles to a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein at least a portion of the applicator structure is configured to absorb the substance.

71. The method of claim 71, wherein the associating of the plurality of magnetizable particles comprises associating the plurality of magnetizable particles with the applicator structure when the magnetizable particles are in a non-magnetized state.

74. A device for applying a substance, the device comprising:

an applicator comprising an applicator structure configured to be loaded with the substance and to apply the loaded substance, wherein the applicator structure comprises at least one element configured to generate a magnetic field; and

a receptacle configured to contain the substance to be applied, the receptacle defining a recess configured to receive the applicator structure.

75. The device of claim 75, wherein at least a portion of the applicator structure is porous.

80. The device of claim 75, further comprising a wiper member configured to wipe excess substance from the applicator structure.

76. The device of claim 76, wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of magnetic particles.

77. The device of claim 76, further comprising the substance to be applied, wherein the substance is contained in the receptacle.

79. The device of claim 76, wherein the applicator structure is configured to apply the substance to one of hair and skin.

78. The device of claim 78, wherein the substance is a make-up substance.

81. A device for applying a substance, the device comprising:

an applicator comprising an applicator structure configured to be loaded with the substance and to apply the loaded substance, wherein the applicator structure comprises at least one element configured to generate a magnetic field; and

a handling member configured to be grasped to hold the applicator structure, the handling member being configured to removably cover a receptacle containing the substance to be applied.

82. The device of claim 82, wherein at least a portion of the applicator structure is porous.

83. The device of claim 82, further comprising a wiper member configured to wipe excess substance from the applicator structure.

84. The device of claim 82, wherein the applicator structure comprises a plurality of magnetic particles.

85. The device of claim 82, further comprising the substance to be applied, wherein the substance is contained in the receptacle.

87. The device of claim 82, wherein the applicator structure is configured to apply the substance to one of hair and skin.

86. The device of claim 86, wherein the substance is a make-up substance.